To switch or not to switch? That is the question Chelsey Wood struggles with… and many others out there too (read the comments in the last X-deal post here). The dilemma is the following: X-E1 and lenses or [shoplink 16816 ebay]GX7[/shoplink] and lenses? Chelsey is gravitating towards the [shoplink 16816 ebay]GX7[/shoplink] but said that you still have some hours to persuade otherwise :). So if you think Chelsey should not miss this occasion, feel free to share your reasons in the comments.
And what if Fuji releases the X-E2? lettherebelight said in the last post: “You can always sell the body but the deal on the lenses is awesome. You would probably come out even if you bought say an X-E1 kit with 18-55 and added a 35 f1.4 at the current discount then sold the body later and upgraded to the X-E1s/2 or X-Pro2 body.”
Or as Mike said: “Wow, that’s a great deal. Worth buying now and putting those lenses away to use with the X-Pro 2 next year!”
21 Responses
Personally, I am going to wait until the 56/1.2 and X-E2 are out, then when this deal rolls around again, I will get the 56/1.2 and either the 23 or 27, and maybe the longer zoom, and get the camera for free in the process. Like I did with my current X-E1 and the 18, 35, and 60. Fuji is awesome! 🙂
I was faced with the same decision except I already owned a pretty much complete Micro 4/3rds kit and was migrating from Nikon DSLR as I only wanted to support one system. In the middle of that transition I bought an X100s. Uh Oh! Now it was complicated…I ended up selling all my DSLR gear, a complete Micro 4/3rds kit with GX1 and EM5 bodies and have settled on Fuji. I don’t regret it for a minute but I don’t shoot action or sports and I don’t need TTL lights as I shoot mostly manual flash. If you don’t need those two things I think the Fuji system is the better system in terms of high ISO and image quality. The lenses are great on both systems but I love the old school control of the Fuji’s and the image quality is (IMO) a step up from M4/3rds but I have yet to shoot with an EM1 (and probably won’t at this point). Good luck with your choice. I don’t think you could go wrong either way.
I look forward to adding a 56mm f1.2 with an X-E1 or X-E2 body, to my X100s.
These deals are just wonderful,
At these prices, I’m definitely going to switch (at this price it will have to be my house for Fuji).
I sold my D800 and boatload of lenses and went for the XE1 together with a plethora of MF lenses. IQ is really good, no gripes there. I had just hoped for good lenses at the same price level as the camera.
It seems Fuji think they are the new Leica and are asking insane prices for their lenses and the quality does not live up to their price schemes. A lot of people might jump in and say I’m wrong, but I’m actually contemplating getting a D600/700 again for my landscape work.
Sorry, but have you ever compared Fuji’s lens prices to those of Leica. And then compared Fuji’s prices to those of Nikon and Canon. There’s really nothing insane about a $600 35 1.4 those has gotten raved reviews from press and users alike.
Keep the comments coming folks. I have to decide by this evening. I’m still on the fence. I’m really hoping the next gen fuji brings: stabilization, better evf, touch and tilt screen, weather sealing, and high speed af. If this happens its a no brainer.
I feel you are trying to talk yourself into the Fuji, but your heart is really with the 4/3.
I think the real question is what do you like to shoot? These little mirrorless cameras, although capable, are challenged to become a “one camera solution for all shooting scenarios” type of camera. If you want a camera to take with you everywhere then the mirrorless is the way to go but you have to realize they all have limitations.
I can say this; After owning Panasonic, Sony, Fuji, Canon, and Nikon I think the Fuji is the most fun camera I own or have owned. I have Nikon DLSR’s and use them for work but my Fuji goes everywhere with me. The fuji is the closest thing to me that can give me image quality in comparison to my dslr. I can get low light shots of friends and family when I am out, I can get awesome bokeh with my primes (the 35 f/1.4 is spectacular), and it is perfectly sized that it does not take up much room.
In comparison to the Sony the Fuji lenses are superior. With respect to the m4/3 setup Fuji will have a bigger sensor and although m4/3 is very capable and a good setup, there are a lot of benefits to the aps-c sized sensor. Your bokeh will be superior with the Fuji, and the low light (which is my biggest thing with these little cameras) is amazing.
As for your wish list you probably will be happy with the Fuji but I honestly would not believe Fuji to create a camera with everything you want. AF is likely to get better. Stabilization is on certain lenses but with the fast primes you can shoot fast enough to not need stabilization. EVF’s will always get better as technology gets better. Touch probably wont be there. Tilt is a possibility as it is a really nice option. Weather sealing is a no go.
I just said a lot but my recommendation is buy the Fuji and a prime (Get the fastest lens you can afford). Once you see the files you create you will be blown away that a little camera like this can provide image quality this good. But once you see what you can get out of this camera you will be so happy you took advantage of the discounts and made the switch. When it comes down to it Image quality is king over features any day!
Best of all… If you don’t like it you can always return it! Do it!!!
Thanks for this. Very reassuring. I think you are right. I can get the fuji with a few lenses, try it out and maybe even compare it to the GX7 when it comes out.
Touch is just nice for street photography when shooting from the waist. But not a deal breaker for me.
I do like that the GX7 has a couple of focus peaking color options.
I prefer shooting street photography, landscape, and astrophotography. I don’t like doing portrait stuff but because I have a lot of nephews and nieces I end up doing a lot of that. AF is only really important for street and family shots. Which is the big draw to 4/3s.
One of the biggest things for me is the ability to look down at my camera and see/change my settings discreetly. I guess I could just use the LCD on the GX7 though…. Decisions decisions…
Oh yeah. I also want to use Canon FD manual lenses with whichever system I get. Lots of info out there about using these lenses with micro 4/3. I’ve seen adapters for x mount so assume it will work the same.
You could of course get an X-M1 (which I have and use waist level for shots using the tilt screen). The X-A1 has this feature too! 😉
The reality is when buying one of these brands of camera you are buying the lens system first and the body second as the body is replaceable but the lenses stay with you. Look at the lens selection with Fuji and you will see a company that is dedicated to the photographer. They offer firmware that adds features to the camera essentially giving you new value to your investment. And they have quality built into everything they are building, just picking up any of their products you will notice this. The body’s evolve and Fuji will bring these features in their evolution, I cannot imaging the X-E2/s not having a tilt as their direct competition has this feature and a lot of people enjoy it. Thats why I got an X-M1 specifically for the tilt screen feature.
You have a lot of decisions but I don’t think you can go wrong with the Fuji… above all, image quality is superb and with the fast primes they will help you achieve awesome results.
Good luck and we all hope to answer questions about your new Fuji next week!! 😉
Wouln’t say the same, at all.
Canon FD lenses are great, but with the 2x crop even a 28mm wideangle becomes a long lens, the rest of it is just thrown away because the light falls outside of the sensor, that’s a whole lot of great optics wasted, and hardly any useful focal lengths as of course they weren’t meant to be used that way.
The Fuji’s of course have only 1.5x crop, much much better, with which the lenses can at least show a little of their original character. Plus the option of a speedbooster adapter (focal length reducer) which can recover the full frame.
Forget weather sealing – non on the lenses. Poop.
with the new nex FF prepare to sink fuji 😉
@Maker–You have to be kidding–said like a fan-boy. How do analyze your obviously kidding comment:
1. just how do you shoot with a Vapor-Camera that is only rumored–there’s not even a picture of it?
2. How much will your vapor-camera FF NEX cost? Based on Sony pricing, expect $3,000, NOT INCLUDING LENSES. For $3K you get a full kit with a backup body.
3. And talking about lenses, WHAT FF LENSES??? Are you going to use A-Mount lenses that are bulky and designed for SLR/DSLRs? Of course you’ll need some Sony adapter that costs extra $$$. So your Vapor-Camera just went up in price again. Dream on….
4. And I’m sure you haven’t even tested your Vapor-Camera and Vapor-lenses, so sure you are about their performance–maybe that’s why the Sony kit lenses are constantly derided as mediocre at best.
It’s nice to dream in Vapor-Camera Land, and your imaginary photos must be award winning, but I prefer the real world with cameras that actually exist. Only desperate fan-boys would proclaim that their newest NEX FF Vapor-Camera will “sink” some other camera….
With this generation of Fuji tech, I did have to learn a new flow to take a picture, but Fuji rewarded my efforts handsomely with sharp images full of beautiful colors that were a joy to shoot.
Times I’ve cared about weather sealing while owning X cameras = 0
If you can look me in the eye and say you love taking photos while standing in the pouring rain then fine. Otherwise I’d say why sacrifice the quality of the 95% of photos you take just to allow the 5% which might happen in poor weather.
It took Oly/Pano a few camera generations to get to this level. Fuji will probably get there someday too.
Very true. Since owning the GH3 I’ve shot twice in the rain, both times I gave up due to raindrops ruining my shots lol.
Chelsey, hope you ended up with the Fuji X. I am finally putting my 5D Mark III, 85L, 135L, 40mm and few others on the fleebay and primarily shoot Fuji digital and medium format film. From portraits to landscape I enjoy more and shoot more with the Fuji compared with the Canon. IQ is comparable and only at extreme chomping you will notice the difference. With that said when you print you will not know the difference. I cannot wait til the newer Sony sensor… Maybe 24mp XE2 and XPRO2? The last couple months I have shot Fuji exclusively and I am hoping that they come up with some crazy leaf shutter lens for the X system in APS-C interchanageable and X-Trans Medium format.
Hi,
the X-E1 is a great camera with great image quality and a great layout. I got my X-E1 in January and I don`t regret buying it. Taking pictures with my X-E1 is a real joy. The all around quality is so good that I will keep it until a X-E3, 4 or something might come out someday with a really speeded up EVF.
Thinking prices I wouldn`t buy a new X-E1 now with a rumoured upcoming new X-E body around the corner. I would wait until October to see what these rumours are all about. And maybe the X-E1 is soon a real bargain.
Cheers,
Jens